Dirty Bomb Plot Revealed

The Washington Times reports on a “dirty bomb” plot that has been uncovered by the F.B.I. A leading al Qaeda figure named Adnan El Shukrijumah was apparently in charge of the scheme, which centered in Canada. The plotters were instructed to obtain their nuclear material in North America rather than try to smuggle it in. It is unclear from the report how many of the plotters have been apprehended. This is apparently the same effort that Jose Padilla was involved in. El Shukrijumah fled the country last year and is believed to be in the Middle East. The Times article suggests that the al Qaeda cell in Buffalo may also have been involved.
The Times story is based on an F.B.I. leak. It is interesting to contemplate what might cause the agency to leak this kind of story at this particular time.